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Tehran puts executions in the people’s hands

Hugh Tomlinson

April 22 2014, 1:01am, The Times

A murderer known as Balal is given a last-minute reprieve by his victim’s motherEPA

The pictures of an Iranian murderer dramatically spared the hangman’s noose after a last-minute reprieve from his victim’s mother last week have spread throughout the globe, prompting accusations from dissidents of a propaganda campaign by Tehran.

With Iran under growing pressure from the West over its dismal human rights record at the continuing talks over its disputed nuclear programme, Iranian activists and rights groups point to a surge of retribution executions in recent months.

Critics claim that the photographs — first published by state news agencies — are part of an orchestrated campaign to cast a positive light on the Iranian regime’s involvement in such punishments. In an attempt to sidestep international criticism, the choice between mercy or death is placed increasingly in the hands of the…